Edge conditioning of metal strips

ABSTRACT

For smoothing the edge corners of a plurality of metal strips advancing side by side, pairs of upper and lower roll means are spaced across the strip path at the strip edge localities and are provided with slightly tapered roll surfaces, each pair of roll means having individually yieldable support pressing its upper and lower rolls toward each other for rolling engagement of their surfaces with the strip edge corners whereby sharp corners and other burrs are rolled below the sheet surface planes. Coacting fin and groove rolls are advantageously disposed to guide the strips at and between the strip edges, as advancing to the corner engaging rolls. Effective roll cages comprise pairs of complementary upper and lower modules, each module extending along the strip path and carrying one of the guide rolls and one of the corner engaging rolls, to coact with like rolls of the complementary module. The several modules, with one of each pair spring-loaded, are removably mounted on supporting structure and are thereon adjustable in position crosswise of the strip path, whereby various numbers and widths of strips can be subjected to edge conditioning.

ii i

finite States atent [191 [111 3,724,251

Wegner 1 Apr. 3, 1973 EDG CON 0F METAL Primary Examiner-Milton S. Mehr STRIPS Attorney-Cooper, Dunham, Henninger & Clark [75] Inventor: 2221:1811 E. Wagner, Riverside, ABSTRACT [73] Assignee Alum Research and Devehpmem For smoothing the edge corners of a plurality of metal Limited Montreal Quebec Canada strips advancing side by side, pairs of upper and lower roll means are spaced across the strip path at the strip [22] Filed: Apr. 27, 1971 edge localities and are provided with slightly tapered [211 App! No 137 821 roll surfaces, each pair of roll means having individually yieldable support pressing its upper and lower rolls toward each other for rolling engagement [52] 11.8. C1. ..72/203, 72/246, 72/199 of their surfaces with the strip edge corners whereby [51] Int. Cl. .3211) 1/00 sharp corners and other burrs are rolled below the [58] Field of Search ..72/203, 199, 225, 226, 234, sheet surface planes. Coacting fin and groove rolls are 72/237,40 advantageously disposed to guide the strips at and between the strip edges, as advancing to the corner [56] References Cited engaging rolls. Effective roll cages comprise pairs of complementary upper and lower modules, each UNITED STATES PATENTS module extending along the strip path and carrying 2,348,283 5 1944 Dolan ..72/2o3 x one Of the guide rolls and one of the corner engaging 2,775,151 12/1956 Schumacherm.

..72/226 rolls, to coact with like rolls of the complementary 3,479,852 11/1969 Conrad et al.... .....72/234X module. The several modules, with one of each pair 3,315,511 4/1967 Turner ..72/221 spring-loaded, are removably mounted on supporting 2,934,235 1961 Simich "mu/366 structure and are thereon adjustable in position cross- 2,2l6,869 10/1940 Yoder et al ..72/203 wise of the Strip Path whereby various numbers and widths of strips can be subjected to edge conditioning.

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Tic 1B. 9140 141 HT PATENIEDAPRS ma 3.724.251

sum 5 {1F 5 Tici.&. W N...

EDGE CONDITIONING OF METAL STRIPS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the edge conditioning of strips of metal sheet and particularly to apparatus for conditioning the edges of multiple strips, i.e., two or more such strips which are advancing lengthwise in side-by-side relation. In a more specific sense the invention is directed to apparatus which is capable of smoothing, especially deburring, the comers of the edges of a plurality of strips of metal sheet, while such strips are travelling lengthwise in the same path'plane in close edge-by-edge spacing, for example as in the case of such strands which have been produced by the action of a conventional slitter or like device.

As is well known, sheet metal is customarily produced by rolling in the form of a relatively wide strip, and in order to provide strip metal of various commercially desired widths, usually much narrower than the as-rolled strip, the wide sheet is passed through a slitter or other continuously acting shearing device, which severs the metal lengthwise along one or more desired lines. The resulting severed edges of the product strips are usually characterized by sharp corners, indeed notably by more or less upset sharp configurations along at least one such corner of each edge, and may have other burrs or irregularities or projections which are undesirable for further processing or use of the strip metal. It will be understood that reference herein to an edge of a metal strip mean the severed region or surface at the side of the strip between the two broad faces of the latter, and references to corners of the edge mean the intersection of the edge with the faces of the strip or sheet.

Although a variety of edge conditioning devices have been used or proposed for smoothing edge corners of metal strip, including various rolling, grinding, buffing or cutting operations, it does not appear that any truly effective apparatus has been available for performing such operations in an economical manner on multiple strips of metal sheet, such as maybe delivered by a slitting device or may otherwise be conveniently advanced in side by side coplanar relation from or to other treatments, e.g., after having been rewound from a slitter and then again paid off from a reel of coils. Such equipment as has been proposed for these purposes has been deficient in providing guiding and rolling means that would tend to impair the desired shape of strip at its edge regions, especially for thin gauges or soft metals, or would not be adjustable to different gauges, or would not accommodate minor thickness variations without some tendency to over-roll and elongate the edge regions (making them wavy), or

would otherwise lack controllability and precision of treatment, or might have some tendency to damage the surfaces of the strands, or would require shifting different strands into different levels for treatment. The

extent of corner deformation required for effective deburn'ng has now been found to be relatively slight and indeed in some cases delicate, but it must be achieved in a precise manner and should be self-adapting to some changes in condition of the edges, despite the fact that a multiplicity of such edges are required to be treated simultaneously.

Hence a primary object of the invention is to provide means for conditioning, i.e., smoothing, both corners of each edge of all the strips, so as to assure a burr-free condition at all edges, with essentially no upstanding or similarly sharp corners at either edge, while avoiding one or more, indeed preferably all, of the deficiencies or shortcomings that have characterized a number of previous devices as explained above.

In a more specific sense, the invention is designed to accomplish these results on a plurality of strips, e.g., two or even many more which are advancing lengthwise in the same path plane, in closely spaced relation, such smoothing operation taking place simultaneously, with means functioning individually, in a controlled manner, at each locality of closely adjacent edges, and indeed essentially individually with respect to the edge corners of the respective strips at each side of the narrow space between the latter. Further objects are to afford improved and highly reliable instrumentalities of the stated character, including provision for adjustment or accommodation of the edge conditioning means to suit strips of various widths and thicknesses, and indeed to handle any desired number of strips from a single strand to a large multiplicity of strands, such operation being accomplished without undesirable deforming or damaging the strips and indeed without hampering free longitudinal passage of each strand of the multiple group.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION For the foregoing and other ends,the improved apparatus of the invention, designed for handling coplanar, longitudinally advancing strips of metal sheet, comprises a multiplicity of pairs of opposing, edge comer-engaging roll means, which are disposed in mutually spaced relation across the path of the strips, e.g., at the localities of the closely adjacent strip edges and at the outermost edges of the group of strips so that all edge comers are simultaneously engaged and smoothed by rolling contact of the coacting roll means of the several pairs. More particularly, each pair includes: roll means at opposite faces of the path plane, relatively narrow in a direction crosswise of the passing strands, but each adapted to engage both of two closely adjacent strips at their edge corners; and-coacting supporting means arranged so that the opposing work rolls of each pair are yieldably urged or pressed toward each other, independently of the other pairs, whereby the arrangement serves to attain a controlled, highly efficient smoothing operation, which is achieved by rolling deformation and which involves no derangement or damage of the sheet metal, particularly at the surfaces thereof.

A further, particular feature of the invention is the provision of coacting guide fin means, very advantageously embodied as guide roll means, which maintain the several strips in precise but close edge-byedge spacing for desired function of the above described, comer-engaging work rolls. The guide roll vmeans preferably comprise pairs of rolls, respectively of which one provides a peripheral fin or flange and the other has a peripheral groove freely receiving such fin or flanges so that the adjacent sheet strips are separated by such flange while kept essentially out of contact with other surfaces of the guide roll means.

Another specific aspect of the improved apparatus resides in the provision of individual structures or modules for carrying the described roll means, most particularly a set of pairs of such modules, the modules of each pair being respectively disposable adjacent to opposite faces of the path plane of the strip, in alignment with the strip edge localities, viz. the narrow spaces between passing strip edges and also the regions of the outermost strip edges. Each of the pairs of modules rotatably carries one of the guide roll means and one of the work roll means of the corresponding pairs of such means to be associated with the defined strip edge locality, whereby the modules, which may be removable, are readily positioned in suitable supporting means with selected, accurate spacing, one of the modules of each pair being advantageously fixed in position and the other module being disposed with spring biasing or loading so as to provide individually yieldable, compressed engagement of the work roll surfaces, with the passing edge corners. The arrangement of the coacting modules thus affords individualized, highly reliable and accurately aligned treatment of the strip edges, the entire arrangement being adapted to cooperate with suitable means for advancing the group of strands continuously and rapidly to, through and away from the module assembly, in flat, coplanar align-- ment.

An additional particular feature, that appears to be of unusual importance, is the construction of each edge-engaging roll means (of the described pairs) as two separate, freely rotatable work roll elements, close together and respectively arranged to engage the closely adjacent comers of a passing pair of strip edges. Thus each strip edge corner is in effect individually subjected to rolling, pressure contact of a single work roll, which apparatus is unusually satisfactory in operation on alu-' minum sheet of a variety of gauges or thicknesses, but is deemed effective for corresponding use and function on sheet strips of any of a variety of other metals. Still further features and advantages of the invention are described or will be apparent hereinbelow, in connection with the description of the specific apparatus that is shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational and sectional view, with a side frame plate removed (line 1-1 of FIG. 2), of one embodiment of the invention as arranged in processing metal strip travelling from a payoff reel through a slitter to a rewind unit for coiling the severed strips, this view being substantially simplified or diagrammatic.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, with certain elements in part broken away.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are respectively simplified vertical sections on lines 33 and 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are enlarged exaggerated cross-sectional diagrams showing the transverse profile of severed strands respectively before and after conditioning by the apparatus.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a pair of upper and lower roll-carrying modules, in longitudinal, vertical section on line 6--6 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged transverse vertical section, showing one edge-engaging roll assembly, on line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section (like FIG. 6) at one end portion of a pair of modules, further showing certain structural arrangements for supporting and securing the modules, with spring pressure means.

FIG. 9 is a vertical section on line 99 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary plan view, similar to a portion of FIG. 2, showing certain pressure applying means of FIG. 8 and also showing further supporting roll means for the passing strands.

FIG. 1 1 is an elevational view, on line 111 1 of FIG. 10, of the supporting roll means and mounting thereof.

FIGS. 12 and '13 are respectively a fragmentary section (like FIG. 6) and plan showing alternative retaining means for an upper module.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to FIGS. l-4 inclusive, the simplified illustration of the edge conditioning apparatus is set forth in coacting relation, for example, in a diagrammatically shown system wherein wide metal strip is delivered from a payoff reel and subjected to longitudinal slitting, thus producing individual, severed strands which are thereupon drawn through the edge conditioner and are finally rewound, simultaneously, as individual coils. Specifically, the original wide strip 20 is paid off from a coil on a reel 21, and traverses a slitter 22, from which it continuously issues as a plurality of severed strips, e.g., here shown as three such strands 20a, 20b and 200. The strips advance, in the same plane and in close edge-by-edge spacing through the edge conditioner 24 of the present invention, and are ultimately rewound on the reel 25, i.e., as separate, side-by-side coils as will be apparent from FIG. 2. The wide and severed strips are pulled through the system under tension by action of the usual drive, not shown, of the rewind reel 25.

It will be understood that the several cooperating instrumentalities 21, 22 and 25 are conventional and may have usual features (not here detailed) of construction and function, as for example, means if necessary in the payoff reel for providing desired unwinding of the coil strip without overrunning, suitable shear-type or other rotary knife structure in the slitter, together with the usual driving means for the knife shafts and with stripper means if required, and appropriate, powered driving and tension-maintaining means for the rewind reel 25 so that as explained the latter can draw the strip material through the entire line of equipment, including the conditioner, at appropriately high speed. The slitter customarily trims the side edges of the feed strip (as well as dividing it into desired strands), thus yielding narrow trim strips at 26, 27 which are discarded, and creating the same sharp corner or other burr condition at the outermost strand edges as elsewhere.

The conditioner basically comprises a plurality of pairs of edge corner engaging roll means, such roll means of each pair being respectively designated 28 and 29 and being disposed to engage the edge corners of the passing, severed strips a, 20b and 200. Three such strands are illustrated, but the invention is applicable to various numbers of strip strands, e.g., 2 to ten or more from 60-inch strip stock, depending on manufacturing requirements; indeed the described apparatus is capable of use for a single strand, if occasion demands. Thus in the example shown, four pairs of roll means 28-29 are distributed in spaced relation across the group of strips, conveniently along a single transverse line, so that the edges between adjacent strands, e.g., 20a-20b and 20b-20c, are processed, as well as the outermost strand edges, e.g., of the strips 20d and 20c.

More particularly (see also FIG. 7) each of the roll means 28, 29 comprises two work rolls 30, 31, conveniently separated by a very thin spacer disk 33 and rotatably carried on a shaft 34. The roll surface of each of the rolls 30, 31 has a shallow bevel or frusto-conical configuration with the larger diameter at the locality of proximity of the two roll surfaces. Thus each coacting pair of work rolls (FIG. 3), such as rolls 30-30 or 31- 31, is adapted under suitable load, to deform the faces of the strip at and immediately adjacent to the comers of the edge, by true rolling action. In this way, any sharp upwardly protruding corner is essentially rolled down, as likewise any and all other burrs, projections or deformities. By reason of the preferably very narrow axial dimension of the roll surfaces, as well as their taper, all possibility of rolling metal contact with the advancing strip surfaces is limited strictly to the edge comer regions where smoothing function is desired. The term smoothing is herein used to include smoothing by rolling deformation, preferred operation being indeed such that this is essentially the only mode of smoothing effected as distinguished from rubbing, scraping, grinding or the like.

FIG. 5A is an exaggerated view of multiple strands of metal strip having one form of edge configuration that may be produced by a conventional slitter. As will be observed, each of the strips 20a, 20b and 200 is characterized by a pair of upturned, sharp corners at one or the other of its faces; irregularities may conceivably sometimes appear at both upper and lower corners and may include other burrs, slivers or like projections. FIG. 58, again on somewhat exaggerated scale, illustrates the configuration of the strips after traversing the work rolls of the several pairs of comer-engaging roll means described above. Specifically, each strip is now characterized by a bevelled configuration at the comer, e.g., as indicated at 36, 37 in respect to strip 200, representating essentially complete obliteration, by rolling deformation, of sharp or other objectionable irregularities or burrs. Ordinarily the amount of deformation only needs to be relatively slight, rather than to the exaggerated extent shown in FIG, 5B, but as will be apparent, the conditioning instrumentalities are capable of selective adjustment or design to achieve any desired extent of bevel or sloping comer shape which circumstances may demand.

Most advantageously, the several roller means are individually carried in appropriate structures or cages conveniently designed as modules, and designated 38, 39 for the respective upper and lower units of each pair of roll means. A special feature is the provision of individual spring bias or loading for each of the pairs of roller means, here indicated by coil springs 40, respec-' tively associated with the upper modules 38, and depressed by suitable means such as the transverse bar 42, toward the lower, fixedly-mounted roller modules 39. For clarity of illustration in FIGS. 1 to 4 and 6, these springs and the bar 42 are shown in simplified manner, a preferred practical structure being shown in FIGS. 8 to 10.

With this spring arrangement the comer-rolling elements at each pair of adjacent strip edges, and likewise at the outermost strip edges, are individually yieldably loaded for reliability and effectiveness of their edge conditioning function. Variations in individual strips and particularly in corner irregularity or the like are thus fully and individually accommodated, without scraping or abrading the strand corners or edges and without tendency to damage or buckling of the strips in any way. Although the burr condition may often occur (FIG. 5A) in only one of the upper and lower corners of the strip edge, the opposed bevel surfaces of the work rolls 30-30 (or 3131) are of major cooperative effect in: (a) necessary mutual backup for the desired rolling deformation of the burr comer; (b) achieving or maintaining a desired depressed or bevel configuration of both the upper and lower corners; and (0) providing pre-established units or module-carried assemblies which can be used at any edge locality where conditioning is required.

As indicated, the individual work rolls 30, 31 on each side of the pairs of upper and lower work roll assemblies are separately and freely rotatable on their shafts 34. While useful results are attainable with unitary roll elements that carry two oppositely bevelled peripheral faces, i.e., a single element roll shaped to have the surfaces of both of the individual rolls 30, 31 the separately rotatable work rolls provide optimum control and response to the comer-deforming requirements, for true rolling contact without scraping or dragging as might occasionally arise when the two roll surfaces must turn together. Notably, the dual rolls permit the individual leading ends of a new set of side-by-side strands to be pushed through, one at a time, for convenience in start-ups without dismounting the upper roll cages.

The apparatus also advantageously includes guide means respectively associated with the pairs of roll assemblies 28-29, especially to establish and maintain a predetermined, close edge-by-edge spacing of the strands such as indicated at 20a, 20b and 20c and also to establish and maintain the lateral disposition of the strands in suitably precise relation to the several work roll means. Although it is conceived that the guide means may be constituted by other provision for fin elements (whether a single rotating in element, or even a stationary fin) vertically penetrating the spaces between the strands and also the regions at the edges of the outermost strands, unusually effective results are obtained by guide means constituting pairs of coacting roll means 44, 45 respectively disposed above and below the path plane of the strips and aligned with the work roll pairs. More particularly, each set of guide rolls, as here embodied, consists of one roll 45 having a central, peripheral fin or flange 47 projecting from adjacent, generally cylindrical but slightly tapered roll faces 48, 49, while the other element 44 is characterized by a peripheral groove 51 recessed between similar, slightly tapered roll faces 52, 53. The circular fin 47 is adapted to project freely into the groove 51 and is arranged to traverse the gap or space, indeed to effectuate creation of such gap or space, between the adjacent edges of the strands, for example the strands b, 20c as apparent in FIG. 4.

Thus by the provision of the fin carrying roll, very preferably with the coasting grooved roll, edge positioning and guidance is established for the edges of the strands at each comer-deforming line, including the outermost edges of the strand group. Although the fin guiding means can be located beyond the corner-engaging work rolls in some cases, special advantage is achieved by locating the guide means in advance of the work rolls, i.e., so that the strip progresses first through the guide means. Not only does this afiord optimum precision of guidance, but it also avoids mechanical contact with the edge surfaces of the strands after the rolling operation, and thus avoids any possibility that such contact might, by upsetting or similar action, cause undesired deformity of the edge corner shape achieved by the work rolls.

In the illustrated embodiment, the fin-carrying rolls 45 are shown below the path of the strands, so that the fin 47 projects upwardly to fit into the groove 51 of the upper rolls 44, as has been found notably convenient in setting up or initially feeding strips through the equipment, but it will be understood that a reverse arrangement of the guide rolls is feasible if desired. Each of the rolls is dimensioned so that the fin 47 does not actually seat in the bottom of the groove 51,-and also so that the frusto-conical surfaces 48, 49 and 52, 53 normally do not press upon or even touch the surfaces of the strips, although these roll surfaces may serve a secondary supporting function, with occasional light contact, in guiding or guarding the strip edges against significant individual departures from the path plane for which the work rolls are set. More generally, however, the guide rolls are designed for maximum freedom of rotation, with minimum likelihood of damage or deformity of the strands at this locality.

Although conceivably the guide means may be mounted independently of the edge corner deforming work rolls, a special arrangement of the invention involves carrying the guide rolls, respectively, in the same modular structures as the edge engaging rolls, for special assurance of precise alignment. Indeed such structure coacts materially in maintaining the desired, opposed positioning of the upper and lower work rolls, by virtue of the engagement of the fins 47 within the grooves 51. Referring to FIG. 6 as well as the preceding figures, each upper spring-depressed module 38 comprises a pair of parallel, elongated side plates 55, 56, in which the ends of the shaft 34 of the work roll assembly 28 are secured, and likewise the ends of the shaft 54 on which the guide roll 44 is rotatably carried.

The lower module39, below the path plane of the strip comprises a like spaced pair of elongated side plates 57, 58, similarly securing the shafts 34, 54 of the work roll and guide roll means 29, 45. Each of the modules is constituted as a rigid frame by virtue of appropriate cross members between the side plates, as indicated at 60, 61 for the module 38 and at 62, 63 for the module 39. In this fashion, each module constitutes a relatively rugged assembly for precisely retaining the desired tandem, aligned location of the guide and work rolls.

Although other means may be provided for mounting the modules in desired, adjusted positions, across the path of the group of strands, an unusual effective arrangement is illustrated in simplified form in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6. Specifically, the conditioner includes a frame comprising a pair of heavy upstanding plates 65, 66, at the outer sides parallel to the strip path. Between these plates, below the path, cross bars 68 and 69 are disposed respectively beyond and behind the locality of the guiding and work roll means. Each lower module is characterized by a wide horizontal slot at 70 in its side plates 57, 58, at the rear, so arranged as to be moved into seating engagement with the cylindrical bar 69, while the forward ends of the side plates 57, 58 have -each a downwardly opening, hook-like configuration 71, arranged to seat over the forward cylindrical bar 68. Through appropriate means here simply indicated as a cross element 72 between the plates 57, 58, a set screw 74 is threaded. for engagement with the bar 69, preferably a flat surface 75 on such bar. Each lower module 39 can thus be removably seated on the bars 68, 69, and secured in any desired position, i.e., crosswise of the apparatus, by tightening the set screw 74.

For holding the upper modules 38, a bar 77 is mounted between the frame plates 65, 66, above the path plane of the strip, for example in vertical alignment with the lower bar 69. The rearward ends of the side plates 55, 56 of the upper module are characterized by upwardly opening slots 78 shaped to seat up against the bar 77, in appropriately removable fit. A supplemental fulcrum bar 79 also extends between the side plates 65, 66 at a locality above the strip path plane, conveniently ahead of the bar 77, i.e. between it i and the guide roller means 44. This bar 79 is provided with a resilient or cushioned surface, e.g., a sufficiently thick layer of rubber, neoprene or the like as indicated at 80, and is arranged to seat in a conforming step or recess 81 at the underface of the module side plates 55, 56.

Thus when the upper module 38 is arranged as shown and described relative to the bars 77, 79, and with the fin 47 of the lower guide roll 45 suitably entered into the groove 51 of the upper guide roll 44, the upper module is thereby mounted in suitably firm and accurate alignment with the lower module 39, it being understood that the cushioned character of the bar 79 provides for sufficient range of rocking displacement about the axis of the bar 77 whereby the module, by the pressure of spring 40 (here schematically indicated as acting on the cross element 60), may be yieldably loaded or urged downwardly for desired engagement of the upper work roll means 28 with the strip corners and through such comer regions against the lower, fixed work roll means 29 for the comer deforming function of both.

Means may also be provided for insuring maintenance of the group of strips in the desired coplanar relationship as such strands enter and leave the conditioner. Thus in the illustrated apparatus, a pair of upper and lower rolls 84, 85, each extending entirely cross the path of the strands, are rotatably mounted in the plates 65, 66 in opposing position to be traversed by the strands as they enter the conditioner. A generally similar pair of cylindrical rolls 86, 87 are likewise mounted for rotation in the plates 65, 66, to be traversed by the strands as they leave the conditioning elements, it being noted that for improved stabilizing function, the upper roll 86 of the last mentioned pair may be substantially larger in diameter than the other rolls. Each of the rolls 84, 85 86 and 87 is advantageously covered with a layer of cushioning or resilient material of nonabrasive character, so that a desired positioning or leveling function is achieved without damage to the faces of the strands. Indeed these rolls preferably serve their function with a minimum of pressure on the strips, to the extent that the lower rolls 85, 87 may be disposed so that they are normally out of contact with the strip under surfaces during actual travel of the strips under tension. In this or other equivalent fashion, exact coplanar relation of the strands for function of the edge conditioning rolls is promoted, without appreciable surface damage.

The presently preferred arrangement of the oppositely tapered work rolls 30, 31 is shown in FIG. 7, in that these roll elements are respectively mounted on ball bearings 90, 91 for independent, free rotation on the shaft 34 carried by the upper module 38, identical arrangement of the work rolls being provided in the lower module 39. The roll elements are preferably separated by the bearing spacer 33, which may be an extremely thin nylon disk or like element. In some cases, where free sliding contact of the inner vertical faces of the rolls 30, 31 is attainable, the spacer may be omitted, or in other instances, as explained above, the rolls may be integrated as a simple unitary element rotatable on the shaft 34.

FIGS. 8, 9 and show presently preferred structural details of the module devices, particularly as to the spring loading feature. Thus the forward ends of the upper module plates 55, 56 are spanned by a block 93 which is characterized by a shelf surface 94 so that a cavity 95 is provided to enclose the compression spring 40a which is seated at its lower end around a guide stud 96 and is engaged at its upper end by a flange 97, having a like guide stud 98,of a compressor pin 99 that projects upwardly and slidably through a cover plate 100. Thus a compressor bar 42a is adapted to engage the pin 99 for compressing the spring 40a for its function of loading the work rolls as described above.

Instead of removably bolting the bar 42 to the side plates 65, 66 of the conditioner frame (as shown for simplicity in FIGS. 1 and 2), FIGS. 8 and 10 show the bar or plate 42a as carried by a pair of arms 102, 103 respectively pivoted to the side plates at 104, 105. These arms are joined at their opposite ends by a cross bar 106, so that the compressor bar 420 is constituted as part of a lever-type assembly which can be swung upward to be free of the modules, and which in use is moved downwardly to the illustrated position, where the bar 42a has depressed all of the pins 99 of the upper modules and has thereby appropriately compressed the springs 40a. The arm assembly is locked in such position by removable pins 108, 109 extending through suitable depending elements 110, 111 into the frame plates 65, 66 respectively.

It will be apparent that supplemental means for fastening or adjusting the roll modules or for aligning them in set-up or use may be added as desirable, or if needed in particular cases. Thus for more accurately securing the module pairs, provision can be made to fasten the forward end of the lower module 39 relative to the cross bar 68. Specifically, for example, the cross bar carries a slidably fitting collar 112 equipped with a set screw 1 14 adapted to be tightened against a flat region 115 along the bar. The collar 112 fits between the downwardly hooked ends 71 of the module side plates 57, 58 whereby it will be seen that the collar 112 provides a forward, secured location for the lower module, i.e., defining the position of the latter along the axis of the bar 68, transverse of the strip 'path plane. As will be understood, the bar carries a plurality of such collars 112, one for each of the total number of modules contemplated to be mounted (whether all or a lesser number may be employed for any given group of strip strands), and also, although not shown, a like arrangemerit of collars may be provided on the .bar 69 to be utilized and fastened similarly in lieu of the elements 72, 74 of FIG. 6.

For further, mutual alignment of the upper and lower modules, the upper one carries a spacer block 116 between its side plates, in vertical alignment with a like spacer block 62a of the lower module, these spacer blocks both projecting toward each other, somewhat beyond the facing boundaries of the module side plates, as shown at 117 and 118 of FIGS. 8 and 9. One of these blocks, for example block 1 16, has a vertical slot 120 in which is secured a thin steel blade 121 that projects (from the part 117) across the strip path plane, and removably fits into a coacting slot 122 in the upper part 118 of the lower block 62a. As shown, the blade or stiff strip 121, which may be constituted of spring steel, is disposed to traverse the space between two adjacent strip strands, such as the strands 20b and 200, being aligned with the desired center line of such gap and thus with the center line of the guide rolls and work roll means. This guide blade 121 thus enhances the precision of mutual positioning and alignment of the upper and lower modules with each other and with the desired path of the strip strands. It will be noted that the blade 121 is preferably very thin, i.e., much thinner than the fin of the guide roll 44, so that it normally can make no contact with the closely adjacent edges of the strands;

In some cases, notably where the separate strands are of extremely thin sheet or foil, or are unusually wide, additional supporting roll means may be desirable at re gions of the strips intermediate the edge conditioning devices. Thus referring'to FIGS. 10 and 11, such roll means may constitute a pair of upper and lower rolls 124, 125 each carrying a peripheral layer or body of non-abrasive resilient material such as rubber, neoprene or the like as indicated at 126, 127, and arranged for rolling engagement with the passing strip such as strip 20c between them. These rolls may be carried on suitable shafts 128, 129 supported respectively by upper and lower modules 130, 131 that may otherwise be identical with the supporting module structures for the guide and edge conditioning roll means. Specifically the lower module 131 is secured in the same adjustable fashion as module 39 to the bars 69 and 68, while the upper module 130 is supported by the bars 77, 79 like the upper module 38, with spring loading in similar fashion, e.g., by an appropriate spring 132 under a compression pin 133 engaged by the cross bar 42a.

FIG. illustrates the arrangement of a plurality of these pairs of support rolls intermediate the edge conditioning roll modules, when desired to be used. In such case the support rolls coact in maintaining a flat, planar relation of the strands, for optimum guidance through the conditioning unit without injury to the surfaces of the metal. Advantageously, as shown, the axis of the support rolls may be disposed between the axes of the guiding and work rolls, or relatively close to the latter axes, as may best suit conditions.

The operation and advantages of the apparatus will be essentially evident from the foregoing description. Assuming that it is desired to produce a given number of strands of predetermined widths, which may or may not be the same for all such strands, the slitter 22 is set to achieve the desired shearing of the wide strip from the payoff reel 21 and usually also to sever narrow trim strips 26, 27 from the outermost edges, discarded as indicated in FIG. 2. The conditioning equipment is then set up to perform its function with the desired number, width or widths, and disposition of the strands, and so as to have a predetermined small spacing between strand edges (e.g., of the order of 0.1 inch) as governed by the selected fin width of the guide roll means. The required number of lower modules 39 are inserted and secured in place on the bars 68, 69 to conform with the selected strand locations, and then the upper modules 38 are correspondingly inserted, e.g'., on the bars 78 and 79, accurate positioning and alignment of the upper modules being achieved with the guide roll fin 47 and the positioning blade 121 as explained. With preliminary feed of the leading end of the strip through the slitter 22, the corresponding severed strands are passed through the edge conditioning device, either before or after the seating of the upper modules 38 as may be convenient, whereupon the pressure bar 42a is lowered into place and locked, simultaneously compressing all of the springs 40a and applying the required loading to the comer-engaging rolls 28, 29. The strands are then drawn around the rewind reel 25, with a conventional overarm separator 135 if used (although it may sometimes advantageously be omitted after the conditioner), and drive of the reel is initiated, bringing the entire train of apparatus into operation. The auxiliary support rolls 124, 125, if employed, are appropriately installed at the time of installation of the other modules, in selected positions across the path of the strands.

With the precise guiding of the strip edges past the several work roll assemblies 28, 29, the individual work roll'surfaces provide on the edge comers, and essen tially only on the edge corners, a remarkably effective smoothing function by rolling deformation, essentially eliminating sharp edges and other burr characteristics, to yield a product that satisfies the practical demand for de-burred strip. As explained each edge corner received individual treatment from a tapered roll surface which crosses it (extending slightly into the narrow space between strand edges), for effecting the desired slight bevel configuration, regardless of minor variations in thicknesses, burr characteristics or the like. The extent of such treatment can, of course, be deter mined by design of the equipment, indeed to a considerably extent essentially by selection of the springs 400 (which are adapted for ready substitution, each spring being selectable for its task) or of the extent of compression of them, or both. A very important result of the invention is that the corner deformation is easily controlled or limited to no more than is needed for satisfactory burr removal, without so much rolling effect as would materially elongate the region near the edge and create a wavy condition of the strip lengthwise at that region. I

In the case of aluminum (including a variety of aluminum alloys suitable for cold rolled strip) it has been found that a bevel or depression at and adjacent each corner to the extend of 0.001 to 0.003 inch at the very edge is satisfactory for affording a de-burred condition, i.e., in essentially completely rolling the sharp edges or corners down into the metal. Because of its special characteristics, e.g., often as to a high order of ductility or stretchability or other deformability, or as to relatively significant softness in a number of cases, or as to importance of surface finish, or with respect to its special adaptability or use in foils or very thin sheet, aluminum is a type of metal that poses special requirements of controllability and delicate criticality in edge conditioning treatment. I The present invention readily meets such requirements and therefore afiords a method of so treating aluminum (including aluminum alloys), in unusually simple and economical manner while avoiding damage or derangement of the strip including its surfaces, shape and edges. A very important function is that the sharp corner or burr is displaced below the plane surface of the sheet, at the rolled-in bevel which is usually 0.015 to 0.020 inch wide on the plane surface. So treated, the strip is very suitable, for instance, for winding electrical coils with interleaved insulation.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show alternative latch means, exceptionally simple and convenient, for removably supporting the rear end of each upper module 38 (or permitting omission of the cross bar 79. Across the projecting upper surface of the rear cross member 61a which spans the side plates 55,56 of the module, a leaf spring 136 is slidably disposed. This stiff spring element 136 has a longitudinal slot 137 traversed by guide pins 138 depending from a retainer plate 139, so that the element can be slid manually, by its upstanding end portion 140, between an unlatched position indicated by dotted lines at 141, and the latching, solid-line position where its extended flat end 142 seats firmly and tightly on the upper surface of the cross bar 77a that occupies the notches 78 at the rear of the module 38.

A special advantage of the entire apparatus is its ease of adjustment to accommodate various widths and numbers of strands. It is readily designed to accommodate much larger numbers of strands than the three shown, and in all cases can selectively treat any lesser number, even a single strand. The structure is advantageously such that no abrasion or other damage to the faces of the sheet is occasioned; thus very preferably the work rolls are relatively narrow in the transverse direction of the strip, in that for example in one embodiment the total width of the two bevelled work faces together was about seven-eighths inch. By reason of their bevelled or tapered configuration, at a relatively small angle such as 2 to 5 to the path plane, e.g., 3 for metal 0.008 inch thick and upwards, engagement with the strip is limited essentially to the corner area, i.e., to the actual deformed locality.

Finally, the apparatus is adapted to handle strip of various thicknesses, as for example aluminum from 0.006 to .080 inch, without change in the structure of the modules or their mounting bars or the positions of such bars. Of course, the apparatus can be designed to accommodate different ranges of strip thickness and metals of varying characteristics of hardness or deformability, depending on the metal of the strips to be treated. In all cases, the apparatus is effective in the desired edge conditioning function, operating automatically and with exceptional reliability, when set up and arranged in the described, convenient manner.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments herein set forth but may be carried out in other ways without departure from its spirit.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for smoothing the corners of the edges of a plurality of strips of metal sheet which are advancing lengthwise in the same path plane in close edge-byedge spacing, comprising at least three pairs of opposing, edge-corner-engaging roll means, spaced across said path in accordance with strip widths and disposed at localities of strip edges, including at least one locality of closely adjacent edges of mutually adjacent strips,

the two roll means of each pair being respectively disposed on opposite sides of said path plane for smoothing the corners of the strip edges at the cality of the pair, and

supporting means for said pairs of roll means, for separately yieldably urging the opposing roll means of each pair toward each other independently of the other pairs, to engage the strip edge corners at said locality,

said apparatus having a separate such pair of roll means for each aforesaid locality of a strip edge or I adjacent strip edges; a selected one of the two roll means of each such pair having shaft means separate from all other such shaft means, for rotatably mounting said selected roll means; and the aforesaid supporting means comprising a plurality of separate means for respectively yieldably supporting said several selected roll means, each as an independent unit consisting of a selected roll means and its shaft means, for separate, individual, yieldable engagement of each selected roll means against the corner or corners of the strip edge or adjacent strip edges at'the locality of such lastmentioned selected roll means, independently of the roll means at other strip edge localities.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the means for urging the roll means toward each other comprises separate spring means for loading the said selected roll means of each pair to effect loaded rolling engagement of both roll means of said pair with opposite sides of metal strip in the path.

3. Apparatus for smoothing the corners of the edges of a plurality of strips of metal sheet which are advancing lengthwise in the same path plane in close edge-byedge spacing, comprising at least three pairs of opposing, edge-corner-engaging roll means, spaced across said path in accordance with strip widths and disposed at localitia of strip edges, including at least one locality of closely adjacent edges of mutually adjacent strips,

the two roll means of each pair being respectively disposed on opposite sides of said path plane for smoothing the corners of the strip edges at the 10- cality of the pair, and supporting means for said pairs of roll means, for separately yieldably urging the opposing roll means of each pair toward each other independently of the other pairs, to engage the strip edge corners at said locality,

each of the opposed roll means of at least one of said pairs comprising two roll surfaces, said two surfaces of said opposed roll means respectively opposing each other at said path plane, for engaging the adjacent edge corners at both faces of two closely adjacent strips, and each of the roll means of said last-mentioned one of the pairs comprising two rolls respectively providing said roll surfaces and each mounted for free rotation independently of the other, in said supporting means. 4. Apparatus for smoothing the comers of the edges of a plurality of strips of metal sheet which are advancing lengthwise in the same path plane in close edge-byedge spacing, comprising at least three pairs of opposing, edge-corner-engaging roll means, spaced across said path in accordance with strip widths and disposed at localities of strip edges, including at least one locality of closely adjacent edges of mutually adjacent strips,

the two roll means of each pair being respectively disposed on opposite sides of said path plane for smoothing the corners of the strip edges at the 10- cality of the pair, and

supporting means for said pairs of roll means, for

separately yieldably urging the opposing roll means of each pair toward each other independently of the other pairs, to engage the strip edge corners at said locality, said apparatus including a plurality of pairs of opposing, guide roll means,

equal in number to said pairs of edge engaging roll means and spaced lengthwise of the path from said edge roll means, at localities longitudinally aligned with the localities of the edge roll means,

one roll means of each pair of guide roll means having a peripheral fin and the other roll means of the pair having a peripheral groove receiving said fin,

said fin of each guide roll pair being disposed to guide the adjacent strip edge or edges, for maintaining the plurality of the strips in predetermined edge-by-edge position relative to the edge roll means.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, which includes means advancing the plurality of strips lengthwise of the path in a predetermined direction past the guiding and edge roll means, said guiding roll means being disposed for traversal by said metal strips as said strips approach the edge engaging roll means in the aforesaid direction.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which the supporting means comprises a plurality of opposing pairs of roll-carrying structures, respectively disposed on opposite sides of the path plane, said pairs of structures being equal in number to the pairs of edge roll means and guiding roll means,

each structure of a pair of said structures being arranged for rotatably carrying one of the edge roll means and one of the guiding roll means of one set of aligned pairs of said edge and guiding roll means, and

one of the structures of each pair having resilient means for urging such structure and the roll means carried thereby toward the other structure of said pair, to effect strip edge corner engagement of the edge engaging roll means respectively carried by the structures of the pair.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 which includes mounting means extending crosswise of the path plane on opposite sides thereof facing said path,

each of said roll-carrying structures comprising means adjustably mounting the structure on the mounting means on the corresponding side of the path plane, for positioning the structures selectively at desired localities to conform with the widths of the strips of metal sheet.

8. Apparatus for smoothing the comers of the edges of a plurality of strips of metal sheet which are advancing lengthwise in the same path plane in close edge-byedge spacing, comprising at least three pairs of opposing, edge-corner-engaging roll means, spaced across said path in accordance with strip widths and disposed at localities of strip edges, including at least one locality of closely adjacent edges of mutually adjacent strips,

the two roll means of each pair being respectively disposed on opposite sides of said path plane for smoothing the corners of the strip edges at the 10- cality of the pair, and

supporting means for said pairs of roll means, for separately yieldably urging the opposing roll means of each pair toward each other independently of the other pairs, to engage the strip edge corners at said locality, said supporting means comprising a plurality of opposing pairs of roll-carrying structures, respectively disposed on opposite sides of the path plane, said pairs of structures being equal in number and corresponding to the pairs of edge roll means,

each structure of a pair of said structures being arranged for rotatably carrying one of the edge roll means of the corresponding pair of same, and

one of the structures of each pair having resilient means for urging such structure and the roll means carried thereby toward the other structure of said pair, to effect strip edge corner engagement of the edge engaging roll means respectively carried by the structures of the pair, said roll carrying structures of each pair having mutual alignment means longitudinally spaced along the strip path from the edge roll means and comprising a narrow element adapted to project from one structure through the space between adjacent strip edges and means in the other structure for receiving said element.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 in which said alignment means comprises a roll carried by said one structure and having a peripheral fin constituting said narrow element, and

said means in the other structure comprises a roll having a peripheral groove for receiving said fin,

said fin being arranged and positioned for separatively guiding the closely spaced edges of two strips relative to the pair of roll means to which said alignment means corresponds. 10. Apparatus for smoothing the corners of the edges of a plurality of strips of metal sheet which are advancing lengthwise in the same path plane in close edge-byedge spacing, comprising V at least three pairs of opposing, edge-corner-engag ing roll means, spaced across said path in accordance with strip widths and disposed at localities of strip edges, including at least one locality of closely adjacent edges of mutually adjacent strips,

the two roll means of each pair being respectively disposed on opposite sides of said path plane for smoothing the corners of the strip edges at the locality of the pair, and

supporting means for said pairs of roll means, for separately yieldably urging the opposing roll means of each pair toward each other independently of the other pairs, to engage the strip edge comers at said locality, said apparatus including at least three strip-edge-positioning fin means, intersecting the path plane and each arranged and positioned in longitudinally spaced alignment with a pair of roll means, to be capable of separatively guiding the closely spaced edges of two strips relative to said last-mentioned roll means pair.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, which includes means advancing the plurality of strips lengthwise of the path in a predetermined direction past the pairs of roll means, said fin means being disposed to be passed by said metal strips as said strips approach the pairs of roll means in the aforesaid direction.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, comprising at least three roll-carrying structures spaced crosswise of said path plane on one side thereof, each of said structures having means independently yieldably urging the structure toward said path, complementary roll-carrying means disposed on the other side of the path opposite to said structures, and mutually opposed edge-corner engaging roll means having tapered work roll surfaces and carried respectively by said structures and carrying means to smooth strip edge corners at opposite faces of said path plane, the opposing roll means of at least one structure and the complementary carrying means comprising two closely adjacent, oppositely tapered work roll surfaces on each side of the path, for engaging the adjacent edge corners of two closely adjacent strips. 13. Apparatus for smoothing the corners of the edges of a plurality of strips of metal sheet which are advancing lengthwise in the same path plane in close edge-byedge spacing comprising at least three roll-carrying structures spaced crosswise of said path plane on one side thereof, each of said structures having means independently yieldably urging the structure toward said path,

complementary roll-carrying means disposed on the other side of the path opposite to said structures, and

mutually opposed edge-comer engaging roll means having tapered work roll surfaces and carried respectively by said structures and carrying means to smooth strip edge corners at opposite faces of said path plane,

the opposing roll means of at least one structure and the complementary carrying means comprising two closely adjacent, oppositely tapered work roll surfaces on each side of the path, for engaging the adjacent edge corners of two closely adjacent strips, said apparatus including at least three stripedge positioning fin means respectively corresponding to said structures and intersecting the path plane at localities where the strips are advancing to the aforesaid roll means, said fin means being disposed in longitudinally spaced alignment with said roll means to guide the edges of the strips for rolling engagement of the strip edge corners by said roll means.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 13 in which each urging means comprises spring means individually related to and engaging the corresponding structure for applying rolling load to the opposed roll means of the structure and complementary means.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 13 in which includes, in combination,

means for supplying wide metal strip to be continuously advanced,

means receiving wide strip from said supplying means, for slitting said wide strip into the plurality of strips for coplanar advance past said opposed roll means, and

rewind means for said plurality of strips, for drawing the wide strip from the supplying means, through the slitter means and then as said plurality of strips past said opposed roll means for edge corner smoothing engagement thereby.

16. In apparatus for smoothing the corners of the edges of one or more strips of metal sheet advancing lengthwise in a predetermined path plane, a roll-carrying module comprising supporting structure and two roll means rotatably carried thereby in tandem,

said roll means being arranged for coaction with the mutually adjacent edge regions of a pair of strips advancing in said path plane, said tandem roll means being disposed adjacent to one face of said path plane and in alignment with such edge regions,

one of said roll means having a roll surface configuration to coact with a complementary configuration of a roll surface at the opposite face of the path plane for guiding the edges of said pair of strips in predetermined closely spaced position and the other of said roll means comprising two roll surfaces respectively disposed for smoothing engagement with the mutually adjacent strip edge corners that lie in said face of the path plane.

17. In apparatus as defined in claim 16,

a second, identically defined roll-carrying module having identically defined roll means, said first and second modules being disposed on opposite sides of said path plane and mutually aligned for coaction of their respective edge-guiding and cornersmoothing roll means relative to the mutually adjacent edge regions of the aforesaid pair of strips,

the roll surface of the guiding means of one of the modules comprising a peripheral fin for penetrating the space between said edges, and the roll surface of the guiding means of the other of the modules comprising a peripheral groove receiving said fin.

18. In apparatus as defined in claim 17, spring means associated with one of the modules for applying yieldable rolling load to the comer-smoothing roll means of said one module relative to the comer-smoothing roll means of the other of the modules.

19. Apparatus as defined in claim 17 in which the comer-smoothing roll means of each module comprises two rolls respectively providing said roll surfaces and each mounted for free rotation independently of the other in the module.

'20. In apparatus for smoothing the corners of the edges of one or 'more strips of metal sheet advancing lengthwise in a predetermined path plane, in combination,

a plurality of pairs of roll-carrying modules respectively at opposite sides of said path plane,

means supporting said pairs in positions mutually spaced across said path,

the modules of each pair carrying roll means which are complementary to each other for longitudinal rolling contact with opposite sides of metal strip and which individually comprise two closely adjacent, oppositely tapered work roll surfaces arranged and positioned so that said complementary roll means of each module pair are capable of rolling engagement with the corners, at opposite faces of the path plane, of closely spaced edges of two strips advancing in edge-by-edge relation in the plane, and

a plurality of pressure means respectively separately associated with the pairs of modules for yieldably urging one of the complementary roll means of each pair toward the other at said path plane, independently of each other pair of complementary roll means,

each pair of modules having strip-edge-positioning fin means, intersecting the path plane and arranged and positioned in longitudinally spaced alignment with the aforesaid complementary roll means of the pair of modules, whereby the fin means is capable of separatively guiding the closely spaced edges of two stripsreiative to said lastmentioned roll means.

21. Apparatus as defined in claim 20 in which the roll means of each module comprises two axially narrow rolls respectively providing said roll surfaces and each mounted for free rotation independently of the other in the module,

the tapered surface of each of said two rolls having a taper at a small angle to the path plane extending away from said plane in the axial direction of the roll away from the other of said rolls and said roll means being free of surfaces facing the strip edges at a large angle to the path plane, for confining the engagement of the roll means substantially only to the corners of adjacent strip edges.

22. In apparatus for smoothing the corners of the edges of one or more strips of metal sheet advancing lengthwise in a predetermined path plane, in combinatron,

a plurality of pairs of opposing, edge-corner-eng'aging roll means, spaced across said path at passing strip-edge localities,

the two roll means of each pair being respectively disposed on opposite sides of said path plane and each roll means comprising two closely adjacent, oppositely tapered work roll surfaces arranged and positioned to be capable of rolling engagement with the corners, at the adjacent face of the path plane, of closely spaced edges of two strips advancing in edge-by-edge relation in the plane, supporting means for said pairs of roll means, for separately yieldably urging the opposing roll means of each pair toward each other independently of the other pairs, to engage strip edge corners at said locality, and

a plurality of strip-edge-positioning fin means, inter secting the path plane and each arranged and positioned in longitudinally spaced alignment with a pair of roll means, to be capable of separatively guiding the closely spaced edges of two strips relative to said last-mentioned roll means pair.

23. Apparatus as defined in claim 22 in which each of the roll means comprises two rolls respectively providing said roll surfaces and each mounted for free rotation independently of the other.

24. A method of smoothing the corners of the edges of a plurality of strips of aluminum sheet which are advancing lengthwise in the same path plane in close edge-by-edge spacing, comprising guiding and positioning said strips by advancing them past fin means between the adjacent strip edges and adjacent to the outermost strip edges, to maintain the strips in predetermined close spacing at predetermined lines along said path, and thereafter deforming said strips substantially only at their edge corners and without appreciable contact against the edges in a direction at a large angle to said plane, by continuing the advance of the strips as guided and positioned in said spacing along said lines while efiecting yieldably loaded rolling engagement longitudinally along each edge corner with an axially narrow, shallow-tapered roll surface rotating about an axis disposed parallel to said plane and crosswise of said path. 25. Apparatus as defined in claim 22 which includes at least one pair of mutually opposing support rolls respectively disposed on opposite sides of said path plane at a locality, crosswise thereof, which is between two pairs of edge-oorner-engaging roll means, said support rolls being arranged in rolling engagement with the surfaces of a strip to coact in supporting said strip in the path plane for edge corner rolling thereon by said two pairs of roll means.

26. Apparatus as defined in claim 20 in which'one module of each pair carries a blade element which is narrower than said fin means and is arranged to intersect the path plane at a locality, between the edges of two edge-by-edge strips, that is spaced longiaidinally along said path from said fin means, and the other module of said pair includes an element recessed to receive said blade element, said blade element and said recessed element coacting to maintain the two modules of each pair in mutual alignment for engagement of their complementary roll means with the corners of said last-mentioned two strips. 

1. Apparatus for smoothing the corners of the edges of a plurality of strips of metal sheet which are advancing lengthwise in the same path plane in close edge-by-edge spacing, comprising at least three pairs of opposing, edge-corner-engaging roll means, spaced across said path in accordance with strip widths and disposed at localities of strip edges, including at least one locality of closely adjacent edges of mutually adjacent strips, the two roll means of each pair being respectively disposed on opposite sides of said path plane for smoothing the corners of the strip edges at the locality of the pair, and supporting means for said pairs of roll means, for separately yieldably urging the opposing roll means of each pair toward each other independently of the other pairs, to engage the strip edge corners at said locality, said apparatus having a separate such pair of roll means for each aforesaid locality of a strip edge or adjacent strip edges; a selected one of the two roll means of each such pair having shaft means separate from all other such shaft means, for rotatably mounting said selected roll means; and the aforesaid supporting means comprising a plurality of separate means for respectively yieldably supporting said several selected roll means, each as an independent unit consisting of a selected roll means and its shaft means, for separate, individual, yieldable engagement of each selected roll means against the corner or corners of the strip edge or adjacent strip edges at the locality of such last-mentioned selected roll means, independently of the roll means at other strip edge localities.
 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the means for urging the roll means toward each other comprises separate spring means for loading the said selected roll means of each pair to effect loaded rolling engagement of both roll means of said pair with opposite sides of metal strip in the path.
 3. Apparatus for smoothing the corners of the edges of a plurality of strips of metal sheet which are advancing lengthwise in the same path plane in close edge-by-edge spacing, comprising at least three pairs of opposing, edge-corner-engaging roll means, spaced across said path in accordance with strip widths and disposed at localities of strip edges, including at least one locality of closely adjacent edges of mutually adjacent strips, the two roll means of each pair being respectively disposed on opposite sides of said path plane for smoothing the corners of the strip edges at the locality of the pair, and supporting means for said pairs of roll means, for separately yieldably urging the opposing roll means of each pair toward each other independently of the other pairs, to engage the strip edge corners at said locality, each of the opposed roll means of at least one of said pairs comprising two roll surfaces, said two surfaces of said opposed roll means respectively opposing each other at said path plane, for engaging the adjacent edge corners at both faces of two closely adjacent strips, and each of the roll means of said last-mentioned one of the pairs comprising two rolls respectively providing said roll surfaces and each mounted for free rotation independently of the other, in said supporting means.
 4. Apparatus for smoothing the corners of the edges of a plurality of strips of metal sheet which are advancing lengthwise in the same path plane in close edge-by-edge spacing, comprising at least three pairs of opposing, edge-corner-engaging roll means, spaced across said path in accordaNce with strip widths and disposed at localities of strip edges, including at least one locality of closely adjacent edges of mutually adjacent strips, the two roll means of each pair being respectively disposed on opposite sides of said path plane for smoothing the corners of the strip edges at the locality of the pair, and supporting means for said pairs of roll means, for separately yieldably urging the opposing roll means of each pair toward each other independently of the other pairs, to engage the strip edge corners at said locality, said apparatus including a plurality of pairs of opposing, guide roll means, equal in number to said pairs of edge engaging roll means and spaced lengthwise of the path from said edge roll means, at localities longitudinally aligned with the localities of the edge roll means, one roll means of each pair of guide roll means having a peripheral fin and the other roll means of the pair having a peripheral groove receiving said fin, said fin of each guide roll pair being disposed to guide the adjacent strip edge or edges, for maintaining the plurality of the strips in predetermined edge-by-edge position relative to the edge roll means.
 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, which includes means advancing the plurality of strips lengthwise of the path in a predetermined direction past the guiding and edge roll means, said guiding roll means being disposed for traversal by said metal strips as said strips approach the edge engaging roll means in the aforesaid direction.
 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which the supporting means comprises a plurality of opposing pairs of roll-carrying structures, respectively disposed on opposite sides of the path plane, said pairs of structures being equal in number to the pairs of edge roll means and guiding roll means, each structure of a pair of said structures being arranged for rotatably carrying one of the edge roll means and one of the guiding roll means of one set of aligned pairs of said edge and guiding roll means, and one of the structures of each pair having resilient means for urging such structure and the roll means carried thereby toward the other structure of said pair, to effect strip edge corner engagement of the edge engaging roll means respectively carried by the structures of the pair.
 7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 which includes mounting means extending crosswise of the path plane on opposite sides thereof facing said path, each of said roll-carrying structures comprising means adjustably mounting the structure on the mounting means on the corresponding side of the path plane, for positioning the structures selectively at desired localities to conform with the widths of the strips of metal sheet.
 8. Apparatus for smoothing the corners of the edges of a plurality of strips of metal sheet which are advancing lengthwise in the same path plane in close edge-by-edge spacing, comprising at least three pairs of opposing, edge-corner-engaging roll means, spaced across said path in accordance with strip widths and disposed at localities of strip edges, including at least one locality of closely adjacent edges of mutually adjacent strips, the two roll means of each pair being respectively disposed on opposite sides of said path plane for smoothing the corners of the strip edges at the locality of the pair, and supporting means for said pairs of roll means, for separately yieldably urging the opposing roll means of each pair toward each other independently of the other pairs, to engage the strip edge corners at said locality, said supporting means comprising a plurality of opposing pairs of roll-carrying structures, respectively disposed on opposite sides of the path plane, said pairs of structures being equal in number and corresponding to the pairs of edge roll means, each structure of a pair of said structures being arranged for rotatably carrying one of the edge roll means of the corresponding pair of same, and one of the structures of each pair having resilient means for urging such structure and the roll means carried thereby toward the other structure of said pair, to effect strip edge corner engagement of the edge engaging roll means respectively carried by the structures of the pair, said roll carrying structures of each pair having mutual alignment means longitudinally spaced along the strip path from the edge roll means and comprising a narrow element adapted to project from one structure through the space between adjacent strip edges and means in the other structure for receiving said element.
 9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 in which said alignment means comprises a roll carried by said one structure and having a peripheral fin constituting said narrow element, and said means in the other structure comprises a roll having a peripheral groove for receiving said fin, said fin being arranged and positioned for separatively guiding the closely spaced edges of two strips relative to the pair of roll means to which said alignment means corresponds.
 10. Apparatus for smoothing the corners of the edges of a plurality of strips of metal sheet which are advancing lengthwise in the same path plane in close edge-by-edge spacing, comprising at least three pairs of opposing, edge-corner-engaging roll means, spaced across said path in accordance with strip widths and disposed at localities of strip edges, including at least one locality of closely adjacent edges of mutually adjacent strips, the two roll means of each pair being respectively disposed on opposite sides of said path plane for smoothing the corners of the strip edges at the locality of the pair, and supporting means for said pairs of roll means, for separately yieldably urging the opposing roll means of each pair toward each other independently of the other pairs, to engage the strip edge corners at said locality, said apparatus including at least three strip-edge-positioning fin means, intersecting the path plane and each arranged and positioned in longitudinally spaced alignment with a pair of roll means, to be capable of separatively guiding the closely spaced edges of two strips relative to said last-mentioned roll means pair.
 11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, which includes means advancing the plurality of strips lengthwise of the path in a predetermined direction past the pairs of roll means, said fin means being disposed to be passed by said metal strips as said strips approach the pairs of roll means in the aforesaid direction.
 12. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, comprising at least three roll-carrying structures spaced cross-wise of said path plane on one side thereof, each of said structures having means independently yieldably urging the structure toward said path, complementary roll-carrying means disposed on the other side of the path opposite to said structures, and mutually opposed edge-corner engaging roll means having tapered work roll surfaces and carried respectively by said structures and carrying means to smooth strip edge corners at opposite faces of said path plane, the opposing roll means of at least one structure and the complementary carrying means comprising two closely adjacent, oppositely tapered work roll surfaces on each side of the path, for engaging the adjacent edge corners of two closely adjacent strips.
 13. Apparatus for smoothing the corners of the edges of a plurality of strips of metal sheet which are advancing lengthwise in the same path plane in close edge-by-edge spacing comprising at least three roll-carrying structures spaced cross-wise of said path plane on one side thereof, each of said structures having means independently yieldably urging the structure toward said path, complementary roll-carrying means disposed on the other side of the path opposite to said structures, and mutually opposed edge-corner engaging roll means having tapered work roll surfaces and carried respEctively by said structures and carrying means to smooth strip edge corners at opposite faces of said path plane, the opposing roll means of at least one structure and the complementary carrying means comprising two closely adjacent, oppositely tapered work roll surfaces on each side of the path, for engaging the adjacent edge corners of two closely adjacent strips, said apparatus including at least three strip-edge positioning fin means respectively corresponding to said structures and intersecting the path plane at localities where the strips are advancing to the aforesaid roll means, said fin means being disposed in longitudinally spaced alignment with said roll means to guide the edges of the strips for rolling engagement of the strip edge corners by said roll means.
 14. Apparatus as defined in claim 13 in which each urging means comprises spring means individually related to and engaging the corresponding structure for applying rolling load to the opposed roll means of the structure and complementary means.
 15. Apparatus as defined in claim 13 in which includes, in combination, means for supplying wide metal strip to be continuously advanced, means receiving wide strip from said supplying means, for slitting said wide strip into the plurality of strips for coplanar advance past said opposed roll means, and rewind means for said plurality of strips, for drawing the wide strip from the supplying means, through the slitter means and then as said plurality of strips past said opposed roll means for edge corner smoothing engagement thereby.
 16. In apparatus for smoothing the corners of the edges of one or more strips of metal sheet advancing lengthwise in a predetermined path plane, a roll-carrying module comprising supporting structure and two roll means rotatably carried thereby in tandem, said roll means being arranged for coaction with the mutually adjacent edge regions of a pair of strips advancing in said path plane, said tandem roll means being disposed adjacent to one face of said path plane and in alignment with such edge regions, one of said roll means having a roll surface configuration to coact with a complementary configuration of a roll surface at the opposite face of the path plane for guiding the edges of said pair of strips in predetermined closely spaced position and the other of said roll means comprising two roll surfaces respectively disposed for smoothing engagement with the mutually adjacent strip edge corners that lie in said face of the path plane.
 17. In apparatus as defined in claim 16, a second, identically defined roll-carrying module having identically defined roll means, said first and second modules being disposed on opposite sides of said path plane and mutually aligned for coaction of their respective edge-guiding and corner-smoothing roll means relative to the mutually adjacent edge regions of the aforesaid pair of strips, the roll surface of the guiding means of one of the modules comprising a peripheral fin for penetrating the space between said edges, and the roll surface of the guiding means of the other of the modules comprising a peripheral groove receiving said fin.
 18. In apparatus as defined in claim 17, spring means associated with one of the modules for applying yieldable rolling load to the corner-smoothing roll means of said one module relative to the corner-smoothing roll means of the other of the modules.
 19. Apparatus as defined in claim 17 in which the corner-smoothing roll means of each module comprises two rolls respectively providing said roll surfaces and each mounted for free rotation independently of the other in the module.
 20. In apparatus for smoothing the corners of the edges of one or more strips of metal sheet advancing lengthwise in a predetermined path plane, in combination, a plurality of pairs of roll-carrying modules respectively at opposite sides of said path plane, means supporting said pairs in positions mutually spaceD across said path, the modules of each pair carrying roll means which are complementary to each other for longitudinal rolling contact with opposite sides of metal strip and which individually comprise two closely adjacent, oppositely tapered work roll surfaces arranged and positioned so that said complementary roll means of each module pair are capable of rolling engagement with the corners, at opposite faces of the path plane, of closely spaced edges of two strips advancing in edge-by-edge relation in the plane, and a plurality of pressure means respectively separately associated with the pairs of modules for yieldably urging one of the complementary roll means of each pair toward the other at said path plane, independently of each other pair of complementary roll means, each pair of modules having strip-edge-positioning fin means, intersecting the path plane and arranged and positioned in longitudinally spaced alignment with the aforesaid complementary roll means of the pair of modules, whereby the fin means is capable of separatively guiding the closely spaced edges of two strips relative to said last-mentioned roll means.
 21. Apparatus as defined in claim 20 in which the roll means of each module comprises two axially narrow rolls respectively providing said roll surfaces and each mounted for free rotation independently of the other in the module, the tapered surface of each of said two rolls having a taper at a small angle to the path plane extending away from said plane in the axial direction of the roll away from the other of said rolls and said roll means being free of surfaces facing the strip edges at a large angle to the path plane, for confining the engagement of the roll means substantially only to the corners of adjacent strip edges.
 22. In apparatus for smoothing the corners of the edges of one or more strips of metal sheet advancing lengthwise in a predetermined path plane, in combination, a plurality of pairs of opposing, edge-corner-engaging roll means, spaced across said path at passing strip-edge localities, the two roll means of each pair being respectively disposed on opposite sides of said path plane and each roll means comprising two closely adjacent, oppositely tapered work roll surfaces arranged and positioned to be capable of rolling engagement with the corners, at the adjacent face of the path plane, of closely spaced edges of two strips advancing in edge-by-edge relation in the plane, supporting means for said pairs of roll means, for separately yieldably urging the opposing roll means of each pair toward each other independently of the other pairs, to engage strip edge corners at said locality, and a plurality of strip-edge-positioning fin means, intersecting the path plane and each arranged and positioned in longitudinally spaced alignment with a pair of roll means, to be capable of separatively guiding the closely spaced edges of two strips relative to said last-mentioned roll means pair.
 23. Apparatus as defined in claim 22 in which each of the roll means comprises two rolls respectively providing said roll surfaces and each mounted for free rotation independently of the other.
 24. A method of smoothing the corners of the edges of a plurality of strips of aluminum sheet which are advancing lengthwise in the same path plane in close edge-by-edge spacing, comprising guiding and positioning said strips by advancing them past fin means between the adjacent strip edges and adjacent to the outermost strip edges, to maintain the strips in predetermined close spacing at predetermined lines along said path, and thereafter deforming said strips substantially only at their edge corners and without appreciable contact against the edges in a direction at a large angle to said plane, by continuing the advance of the strips as guided and positioned in said spacing along said lines while effecting yieldably loaded rolling engagement longitudinally along each edge corner with an axially narrOw, shallow-tapered roll surface rotating about an axis disposed parallel to said plane and crosswise of said path.
 25. Apparatus as defined in claim 22 which includes at least one pair of mutually opposing support rolls respectively disposed on opposite sides of said path plane at a locality, crosswise thereof, which is between two pairs of edge-corner-engaging roll means, said support rolls being arranged in rolling engagement with the surfaces of a strip to coact in supporting said strip in the path plane for edge corner rolling thereon by said two pairs of roll means.
 26. Apparatus as defined in claim 20 in which one module of each pair carries a blade element which is narrower than said fin means and is arranged to intersect the path plane at a locality, between the edges of two edge-by-edge strips, that is spaced longitudinally along said path from said fin means, and the other module of said pair includes an element recessed to receive said blade element, said blade element and said recessed element coacting to maintain the two modules of each pair in mutual alignment for engagement of their complementary roll means with the corners of said last-mentioned two strips. 